Obama vs. the Economy in a Nutshell

October 5, 2011

It presents some promises and other things President Obama and others in his administration said a few years ago, juxtaposed with various numbers (e.g., the unemployment rate) showing how things have turned out so far. It’s very succinct and easy to read.

Some of the numbers are more the president’s fault than others, but taken together, as the president himself said, “If I don’t have this done in three years, then there’s going to be a one-term proposition.”

The infographic author cites his sources at the end (albeit in an artsy, difficult-to-use format), but if you doubt whether the president really said some of these things, I recommend this excellent video version by Minnesota Majority, in which you can see for yourself as he makes the bed he must lie in:

8 Responses to “Obama vs. the Economy in a Nutshell”

Republicans have blocked nearly all efforts to revitalize our economy, just so they could make a video like that. It’s treasonous and anybody who supports those traitors should be kicked out of our country.

Strong words, sir. Among the many possible answers to your remarks, I offer this one: What do you think was holding President Obama back in 2009 and 2010, when he and his party controlled the White House and both houses of Congress?

Senate Republicans filibustered nearly every bill and nomination put forth by Obama and the Democrats. The abuse of the filibuster is unprecedented. The Democrats held a super-majority (60 seats) for a few months in 2009, which is necessary to overcome a filibuster.

“The point, Democratic strategists candidly admit, was to use the last few days of the congressional session before the election to try to highlight one of the few jobs-related issues Democrats feel they may be able to use against Republicans: outsourcing.”

“She also chastised Democrats as dillydallying on the measure, repeatedly pulling it off the floor to deal with other matters. ‘We need to create jobs in America,’ she said. ‘This bill has been on the floor for three weeks and three substitutes — 81 days.’

“The bill would create a $30 billion lending program within the Treasury Department, to be administered through local banks. It would also provide more than $12 billion in tax breaks, and would expand or enhance existing lending programs.”

So Republicans opposed two political ploys that would have expanded government and made the (already insanely complicated) tax code even more complex and manipulative. If the Democrats thought these were vital to the economy, they could have passed them in 2009 when they had their filibuster-proof majority.

If you have to resort to ascribing extremely bad motives to everyone who disagrees with you (“right-wingers have to lie”, “treasonous”, “traitors”), you must not really have an argument.